Summer is long gone . So is the vacation. It's a sad season for students.
No vacation, no day off in middle of the week.
Except for weekend there's not a single day off .
Coach leans against the pole of the soccer goal net lightly . Some teams have already showed up for morning practice.
He glances at his watch , 7:15 am . Still early for most people. Soccer team , track runner , vollyball team is on the schedule today . Kids are chattering pretty loudly . Overdue gossip perhaps.
Track teams coach walks past him , mouthing "Their talk never ends dude !"
That earns a laugh out of him . True that !
Staring too long almost strains his eyes for a second . He runs one eye as the teams seprate themselves back to their respective practice area . Warming up is done.
" Gotta get going " Coach Harper mumbles to himself, trudging along at the far end of the vollyball team .
Everyone is gathering at the middle. Some of them wildly grabbing two balls . Already dribbling it damn hard on the floor as to target is to send them to space .
Coach takes off his glass to rub his eye a little bit .
Boys laugh alound at the dribble, scattering into their positions slowly.
Nathan, already among the crowd, catches one of the ball before it bounces back to hit one of the subs. A light amusing smile lingering on his face.
Coach stares for a bit . Nothing unusual on that part. Nah he needs to talk to this boy.
"Nathan !"
The unmistakeble sound of Coach Harper's voice gets him alert real fast . Nathan turns to spot him .
Coach waves at him to come closer. Nothing unexpected. Nathan already knows it the lecture topic today.
He jogs up to him .
"Good morning sir "
Coach looks like he is been caught between a massive yawning and his duty to lecture Nathan. It never gets easy huh ? Waking up at 6 that is .
Coach asks softly " You were late "
Nathan mumbles back " By 5 minutes "
Coach gives him and unimpressed look " on yes but it's still late . I don't like breaking patterns"
He is eyeing him , Nathan can feel it .
Coach let's out another yawn before continuing" you didn't message in the groupchat yesterday. Detention? Really?"
Nathan's eyes are downcast . Coach can't read the expression.
" Sir I wasn't the only one – " Nathan comments.
" Oh come on now . Is that how we are supposed to do it ?" Coach questions " i know your detention companion. But really? Bothering carter ? I beleive I warned you enough! "
Nathan still hasn't looked up . He clenches his jaw lightly before letting go again.
" I didn't do much. Not like how.." he trails off .
Coach tilts his head slightly " NO Nathan that's not the point. YOU work hard in this school. I know. So does Carter. All you have to do is acknowledg it and move on ! "
Nathan looks up at him " but sir! I am not supposed to get B+ for him ?"
Coach's eyes widen fora split second, oh it's about that .
" I understand your frustration. But there's no proofs my boy . I know you can do better. You have it in you . But if this is effecting your game then I am your buisness. I won't let go off that easily. "
Nathan blinks at that , face marred with mild frustration but doesn't object .
Coach nods "Good. Now go back. Practice, perfect sync with Theo got it ? i don't anymore face planting on the floor."
Nathan takes a few steps back towards the team.
Coach yells towards them loudly " get into position! It's 7:30 already! And nobody break any bone or face planting on the floor unlike yesterday!"
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2nd period is about to start . 5 minutes recess in between . There's barely anyone in the class, half the kids had bolted towards the washroom the second teacher had stepped out .
Some ran with fear of Mr winkle, and some were the embodiment of ' i am the Daredevil '.
Nathan's seat is on the 2nd row on the left , his seatmate , Theo trying to fish out a notebook, a spiral one . He notices half the pages somehow lost inside the backpack.
Nathan asks " Where did all the pages go ? "
Theo grunts in return , finally pulling out a pile of pages , with a victorious smile on his face .
" I never loos'em buddy " he winks at Nathan.
Nathan slouched on the chair. Theo's notes are somehow extremely neat , aesthetically arranges and coloure coded and staff . It reminds him of a certain somebody , Carter.
Speaking of him ,He turns a bit towards the left front bench , Carter sitting straight on his spine . With utmost compassion using a yellowish highliter, to mark something.
" Why that faded colour! Can't be even see it but he gotta do the aesthetic" Nathan mutters , keeping his voice in check .
Theo on the other hand has heard it all .
He leans on Nathan's shoulder " why the quite voice ? "
Nathan turns towards Theo , to his utter dismay a grin spreading his seatmate 's face like of a chesire cat .
Theo continues his enquiry further " don't want to expand your says at the drama club any longer ? "